Kelssek-Coocoostan Rivalry

The Kelssek-Coocoostan Rivalry(also referred to as the Coocoostan-Kelssek Rivalry) is a rivalry in the sport of Ice Hockey between two nations of The East Pacific, Kelssek and Coocoostan. Coocoostan currently leads the rivalry Two wins to One.

Origins of Rivalry

Coocoostan and Kelssek are naturally positioned to be rivals, as the two nations share a large border, the largest with any nation for either country. Hockey in particular is popular within both nations as the Kelssek Hockey League and Coocoostan Hockey League are both widely popular and both flourishing, with the latter expanding rapidly.

History of Rivalry

Pre EPHC

Coocoostan and Kelssek have rich traditions of hockey, with organized league play dating back to 1912 in Kelssek and 1948 in Coocoostan. However, as part of the Soviet Union, Coocoostan did not participate in international competitions. After independence in 1991 Coocoostan was largely isolationist and maintained non-participation. However, in 2005, Coocoostan registered for the East Pacific Hockey Championship(EPHC) number 4, which had been delayed by the outbreak of Nekomimi Flu. The team was accepted and travelled to Xiopothos for with its first game against Kelssek being the most anticipated within Coocoostan.

EPHC 4,Xiopothos

The Blueleafs defeated the Fighting Ibix 3-1 in the round robin and although the play of Defenceman Alex Starukhin against touted Kelssekian forward Sydney Crawford received praise in Kelssekian newspapers, the loss was still widely dissapointing. The teams continued their tournaments, with Kelssek finishing in first undefeated and Coocoostan finishing third after a tie in the second match and two overtime wins. The two teams won their semi-finals, and a second meeting took place in the final. Again, it was a defensive contest, with the Fighting Ibix emerging the winner, 2-1. The win was understandably received with widespread euphoria in Coocoostan, as the team had been built with a win in EPHC 5(hopefully to be held in Coocoostan) in mind. In Kelssek, the loss was taken hard, as Kelssek had to battle through three tournaments, slowly working their way to a win in EPHC 3.

EPHC 5, Free Pacific States

The rivalry took a step up even before EPHC 5, as the Free Pacific States beat out Coocoostan to host the tournament. Coocoostani papers accused the EPHC Organizing committee, based in Kirkenes of collusion and vowed to crush the Blueleafs at the tournament. The two teams were undefeated when they met in the round robin, the Ibix were 2-0 and Kelssek had won it's first game. The 3rd match between the two nations was never close as the Ibix won easily 4-1. The win was a change in the rivalry, as the first two matches were intense to the final buzzer. The Ibix finished 4-0 in the Round robin and Kelssek 3-1. Another finals meeting looked very likely. However, the Blueleafs had a poor playoffs, losing to the Free Pacific States and then to Kangarawa in the Bronze medal game. In contrast, Coocoostan had difficulty defeating Kangarawa before losing the final 4-2.

Attitudes towards rivalry

Coocoostan

Coocoostanis beleive on the whole that the Blueleafs are overrated, as Coocoostan has finished 1st and 2nd in two tournaments, while in Blueleafs have won once in 5 tries finishing 3rd,3rd,1st,2nd and 4th respectively. The following of the rivalry is most dedicated in the Northern areas of the country, while in Darrowmere and San Andreas, Hockey is less popular, and so in turn, is the rivalry. Tension is highest in the Aubrey Federal City, which was formerly Kelssekian territory. Passions are divided roughly in half and while fans vigorously support their side, violence is not a problem.

Kelssek

Kelssekians were dismissive of the Coocoostani side at first, but by the end of the EPHC 5 round robin L'Etoile called the Fighting Ibix "Uncomfortably Dominant." Kelssekians in general see the rivalry as mostly friendly and are mostly welcoming to having an opponent that takes the sport as seriously as them.

In Other Sports

Coocoostani Semi-professional Baseball teams have also hosted baseball players from their eastern Neighbour. The Kelssekian national team lost to the eventual Champion Anadahl Patriots 13-11 and defeated the eventual 6th place Kalibad Icebergs.

The idea of a Kelssek-Coocoostan series in Baseball was floated, but ultimately scuttled within Coocoostan, as a team of Coocoostan's best players would almost certainly defeat their amateur counterparts.

Kelssek won a friendly football match 2-0, as a tune up for the 33rd World Cup.

The rivalry also was featured at the 2nd Summer Olympics, when Kelssekians and Coocoostanis met in both team and individual events, with Kelssekians taking victories in Fencing and Basketball, Coocoostan won in women's Softball and Kelssek won in the Semi-Finals of Men's Water Polo.

Game results

Winning team is shown in bold font; ties shown in italics. The team's nickname at the time of the game is shown in the column under that country's name.